The other day, while listening to the Headlines program, I heard stated, in the introduction of a well-known New York Rav (רב יהודה דוד בלייך שליט"א, Rabbi J. David Bleich) "he's one of the few people in the world who can say that Rav Moshe Feinstein referred to them as yedidi" (1:08:55-1:09:30 approximately).
I heard similar words in another program by the same host about the same guest in the past.
It didn't sound right to me, didn't square with my recollection however.
Just to check, I opened up אגרות משה (which can be seen at www.hebrewbooks.org), and in the pages I went through, it seemed like just about every שואל was referred to that way, i.e. as ידידי (with some exceptions, such as relatives, e.g. Rav Moshe's uncle, who were referred to based on their relationship).
I believe Rav Moshe also signed some public letters with the words ידיד כל אחד ואחד, משה פיינשטיין.
So it seems like an out and out error.
Rav Moshe z"l was a man of many friends.
Since Headlines and its author/host have become important players on the frum scene, it is proper to treat them with appropriate attention and seriousness, which includes correction of errors, such as the above.
Also, in another recent program, the host stated (1:35) "we love when people disagree, the koach of Klal Yisrael was always the כח of argument, discussion", as well as citing Bill Gates at another point, or in another recent program, as saying along the lines of that one learns more from those who disagree with them than those who agree with them.
Based on the above, the host should welcome these corrections. אי"ה there will be more coming.
When R Moshe Feinshtein wrote yedid it may have been a default honorific, while what dovid Lichtenstein may be referring to is that R Feinshtein viewed R Bleich as a personal friend.
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